Material handling device



Feb. 8, 1944. w, Q TON 2,340,933

n MATRIAL HANDLING DEVICE v Filed Aug. 5, -1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 8, 1944.

w. D. CHILTON 2,340,933

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 5&3

A www 'HWI' OOOOOOOO 'lill' INVENTOR. Mu Mw 0 6fm 70M ATTORNEYS,

Feb- 8, 1944'. w. DQcHlLToN MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 e sheets-sheet s INVENTOR 67m 70M MLM.

n ATTORNEYS.

Feb 8, 1944.l w. D. CHILTON MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE 6 Sheets-'Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 5, 1940 um II"I1| M INVENTOR.

Feb. 8, 1944. w. D. CHILTON MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3. 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 8, 1944. W, HiL'l-QN 2,340,933

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3, 194Q 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVNTOR. WMA/w 0 0m TQM Bfy' Mia Patented Feb. 8, 1944 MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE William D. Chilton, Royal Oak, Mich., assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,973

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying sound deadening material to meta-l vehicle body panels.

In the manufacture of sheet steel automobile bodies it has become a common practice to cement a layer of sound deadening and heat insu lating material on the inside of the panel. A iorm of material commonly used for sound deadening and heat insulating purposes comprises a soit, flexible pad of melted fibers bound together with an adhesive such as asphalt. It has been common practice to manually apply this insulating material to the body panels after the several body panels were Welded together to form a body. This prior method was slow, cumbersome and ineicient.

It is the object of this invention to produce a method and apparatus for applying the sound Afdeadening material to the panels before they are welded into an integral body which is more simple and eiiicient than the method heretofore practiced.

The method practiced and the apparatus used briefly comprises a continuously moving conveyor upon which the sheet metal panels are carried. Cement is first applied to the panel, then automatically spread, the pad then applied to the cemented face of the panel and automatically rolled down to smooth out the pad and effect a good bond between the pad and the metal panel.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the meehanism for spreading the cement on the panel and showing a vertical transverse cross section of the conveyor and sheet metal body roof panel.

- Fig 2 is a detail showing the drive for the mechanical brushing apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. V1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the mechanical brushing apparatus showing the brushes raised.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the conveyor, body panel and the rollers for rolling down the pad, the rollers being raised to clear the forward end of the panel.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing in the full lines the rollers rolling down the pad and a dotted line showing of one of the rollers raised to clear the upwardly curved rear end of the panel.

Fig, "I is a transverse vertical section of the rolling and conveying apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that the sheet metal panel I is carried by a jig 2 drawn along upon a pair of roller tracks 3 by means of a conveyor chain 4 secured to the jig 2 by brackets 5. For purposes of description the sheet metal panel I is shown as the roof panel of an all metal body.

The panel I is loaded in the jig by hand with the bottom side of the panel up. Preferably the conveyor chain 4 moves continuously sothat the jig 2 is traveling along the conveyor while the several operations are performed upon the panel I. After the panel I is lowered into the jig 2, cement is applied in gobs to the surface of the panel I either by hand or by any well knowncev ment applicating gun. After the cement has been applied to the panel, the conveyor carries the panel beneath a cement spreading machine comprising a plurality of brushes 6 which reciprocate transversely of the panel I and brush the cement evenly over the face of the panel. The brushes 6 reciprocate transversely of. the direction of travel of the panel and, of course, the panel is traveling continuously during the brushing operation in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3.

The brushes 6 are mounted upon a plurality of arms 'I which are pivotally supported as at 8 upon a support member 9. The support member 9 is mounted upon the rods I6. The rods I0 pass through enlarged openings in the member` 9. The member 9 is held upon the rods IU by the nuts I I and held down thereupon by the compression springs I2. The rods i6 are fixed at their upper ends to the reciprocating `carriage I3 mounted upon rollers I4 which go back and forth upon the tracks I5. The tracks l5 are iiXed on the frame I6 which in turn is xed to the main stationary frame I'I. A cylinder I8 is xed upon the reciprocating carriage I3. The cylinder is provided with a piston I9 and piston rod 20. The lower end of the piston rod 2D is secured toa U shaped support member 2l which passes around the support member 9 and arms l.

The carriage I3 is connected by means of a rod 22 with a rotating crank 23, The crank 23 is continuously rotated by an electric motor 24, belt 25 and gear reduction 26. Thus, as the crank 23 rotates this causes the carriage I3 to reciprocate on the tracks I5. As the carriage I3 reciprocates, the brushes 6 likewise reciprocate across the rpanel I in the direction of the arrows, Fig, l.

It will be noted that the panel I is curved upwardly at its front and rear ends as at 2l and 28 respectively. Therefore it is necessary that the brushes 6 be raised as the front end 21 of the panel passes into the cement spreading machine, then lowered to spread the cement and then raised again to clear the rear end 290i the panel 2I. The raising and lowering or the .shown in the dotted lines, Fig. 3.

brushes 6 is controlled automatically through air cylinder |8 which is connected by lines 29 and 30 with a valve 3|. Valve 3| is connected by means of line 32 with a source of air under pressure. Valve 3| is arranged to be automatically operated by the jig 2.

To this end the jig 2 is provided with a roller 33. A rail 34 is pivotally connected at one end to link v35 and at the other end to lever 36. Link 35 is pivotally supported on bracket 31 xed on the roller conveyor 3 and lever 36 is pivotally supported on the bracket 38 iixed on the roller conveyor 3. Link 35 and lever '36 always hold the rod 34 horizontal. The lower end of bracket 38 is connected by link '38 with the arm 40 xed to the rotary valve"3|.

In the absence of a jig 2, rod 84 is held inv its uppermost position b-y tension spring 4| and lever 36 and link 35 are positioned vertically. At this time air line 32 is connected through l rotary valve 3| with air line 29 thereby raising the piston I9 and brushes 5 to the position shown in Fig. 4. YThis 4position of the valve is Shortly after theforward end 21. of the vpanel passes under the brushes 6, ,roller 33 strikes lever 36 thereby swinging the same clockwise, Fig. 3, and rotating the valve 3| so that line 38 is now connected with air line 32 (full line showing, Fig. 3^) thereby admitting compressed air into the upper end oi the cylinder to lower the piston I9 and 'brushes 6 into AContact with the panel At this timeline 23 is open to exhaust through valve 3|. Since the brushes 6 are `continuously reciprocating, they properly brush or spread the cement evenly over the face of the panel as it travels to the left, as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 3.

As the rear end 28 of the panel approaches the brushes 6, roller 33 rolls off of rail 34 thereby permitting tension spring 4| to again return lever 36, link 35 to vertical position and rotate valve 3| so that air line 32 again connects with air line 29 to raise the brushes and air line .38 is exhausted to atmosphere. The brushes being raised, they are free to clear the rear end of the panel l as it passes by.

After the cement or other adhesive has been properly spread on the panel a pad or layer of insulating material 50 is laid by hand upon the cement covered portion of the panel I. The conveyor chain as it continuously moves, next `moves the forward end 21 of the panel beneath rollers 5| and 52. Rollers 5| and 52 are carried by arms 53 and 54 respectively. Arms 53 and 54 are pivotally connected to levers 55 and 56 respectively which in turn are pivotally supported as at 51 and 58 respectively upon the stationary frame 59 of the pad rolling machine. A limited hinging movement is permitted between arms 53 and 55 and arms 54 and 56by virtue of a cushion in the form of a bracket 68 fixed to one arm and a bracket 6| xed to the other arm. A rod 62 is xed to one bracket and has a sliding connection with the other bracket. A coil compression spring 63 is threaded over the rod 62 between the brackets 68 and 6| which cushions the limited hinging movement between the levers.

Arm 55 is controlled by an-air cylinder 54 having a piston 65 and connecting rods 66 connected with arm 55 by bracket 61. 'Arm 56 is similarly connected with an air cylinder 68 pivotally supported on the frame 5S as at 69. Cylinder 64 is pivotally supported on the frame as v.other (Fig. '1) and from roller 33.

atmosphere. pressure line 82 through valve 13 and valve 15 .line 15 with the compressed air line 82.

cemented to the panel.

at 10. Cylinder 64 is connected by means of air lines 1| and 12 with rotary valve 13. Cylinder 68 is connected by means of lines 14 and 15 with rotary valve 16. Each of the valves 13 and 16 are controlled by a mechanism identical with that for controlling valve 3|.

This mechanism for valve 13 will be generally designated 11 and for valve 16 will be generally designated `18. Mechanism 11 and 18 will be offset from the mechanism shown for operating valve 3| and will be operated by rollers 19 and 85 mounted on jig 2 and oiset from each When the jig 2 is not passing through the pad rolling machine, tension springs 88 and 8| will hold the devices 11 and 18 in the full line position, Fig. 5, so that air lines 1| and 14 are open to Line 12 is connected with air connects air line 14 with atmosphere and air Thus, all of the rollers 5| and 52 are raised. As soon as roller 19 strikes device 11, valve 13 is shifted so that line 1| is now connected to compressed air line 82 and line 12 is open to atmosphere (full line showing, Fig. 6), thereby causing roller 5| to lower down upon the pad 58. At this time, of course, the forward end 21 of panel has passed lbeyond roller 5|.

As the jig travels on, the iront end of the panel passes beneath raised rollers 52 and roller 85 now strikes device 18, thereby operating air valve 15 so that line 14 is connected to pressure air line 82 and line 15 is open to atmosphere thus causing rollers 52 to be lowered upon the pad 58 as the pad travels beneath the rollers 5| and 52 which exert pressure on the pad 50. The pad is rolled or ironed smooth and pressed securely down upon the panel and Just before rollers 5| and 52 reach the rear end of the panel I, roll-- ers 19 and 85 respectively roll off of devices 1| and 18 respectively thereby permitting the tension springs 80 and 8| to again return the valves 13 .and 16 to their initial positions (full lines,

Fig. 5) thereby connecting lines 12 and 15 with the pressure air line 82 and lines 1| and 14 with atmosphere. This permits air cylinders 64 and 68 to raise the rollers 5| and 52 so that they will clear the rear end 28v of the panel as it passes beneath the rollers.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for applying a sound deadeni-ng and insulating pad to a sheet metal vehicle body panel after a surface of the panel has been coated with cement, a support for said panel, a

conveyor for moving the support along a predetermined course, a roller for rolling the pad against the surface of the panel, a control member moved along said course by said conveyor, and means controlled by said control member `for automatically moving the roller against the pad after the forward end 0f the panel has passed by the roller and for retracting the roller from the pad after the `pad has been rolled against the .surface of the panel.

course by the conveyor for automatically swinging the arm and roller against the pad after the forward end of the panel has passed by the roller and for raising the roller after the pad has been rolled against the surface of the panel.

3. In an apparatus for applying a sound deadening and insulating pad to a sheet metal vehicle body panel after a surface of the panel has been coated with cement, a support for said panel, a conveyor for moving the support along a predetermined course, a roller for rolling the pad against the surface of the panel, power means for raising and lowering the said roller, and a control mechanism for said power means including cooperating members carried by the panel support for automatically operating said power means as the front end of the panel passes under the roller to bring the roller into rolling and pressing engagement with the -pad and to retract the roller from the pad before the rear end of the panel reaches the roller.

4. In an apparatus for applying a sound deadening and insulating pad to a sheet metal vehicle body panel after a surface of the panel has been coated with cement, a support for said panel, a conveyor for moving the support along a predetermined course, and pressure ironing means for pressing the pad against the surface of the panel and ironing the same smooth as the panel and pad pass beneath the ironing means, and power means controlled by control means moved along said course by the conveyor for automatically moving the ironing means against the pad after the forward end of the panel has passed by the ironing means and retracting the ironing means from the pad before the rear end of the panel reaches the ironing means.

5. In an apparatus for applying a sound deadening and insulating pad to a sheet metal vehicle body panel after a surface of the panel has been coated with cement, a support for said panel, a conveyor for moving the support along a predetermined course, a roller for rolling the pad against the surface of the panel, and fluid pressure operated means for applying the roller against the pad and retracting the same from the pad, and control mechanism including a fiuid valve actuated by said support whereby the roller is applied to the pad as the forward end cf the pad passes under the roller and is retracted from the pad as the rear end of the pad passes under the roller.

6. In an apparatus for applying a sound deadening and insulating pad to a curved sheet metal vehicle body panel having its forward and rear ends higher than its intermediate portion, a jig for supporting said panel, a conveyor for continuously moving the jig along a predetermined course, a roller having a curvature corresponding to thatuof the panel for rolling the pad against the surface of the panel, a control member moved along said course by said conveyor, and means controlled by the said control member for automatically lowering the roller upon the pad after the forward end of the panel has passed the roller and for raising the roller from the pad after the pad has been rolled against the surface of the panel whereby the roller clears the elevated rear end of the panel.

WILLIAM D. CHILTON. 

